The ‘Baby Barça’ Advances to Quarterfinals: Young Talents Shine in Victory Over Napoli

After three consecutive seasons without achieving it, FC Barcelona will once again be part of the Champions League quarterfinal draw this Friday. In the distant year 2020, amidst the challenges of the coronavirus, the Blaugranas secured their place by eliminating Napoli in the round of 16. This time around, Napoli fell victim to Barcelona once again, who, after a strong start, displayed resilience when needed to seal the match and the tie in the final moments, courtesy of a brilliant play by captain Sergi Roberto, finished off by Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.

Three illustrious veterans, including Gündogan who was also involved in the play, played a key role in Barcelona’s third goal. However, the young talents played a crucial part in the match. Xavi showed no hesitation in selecting two teenagers aged 16 and 17, along with another 20-year-old. His bravery was rewarded with an outstanding performance from all three. Pau Cubarsí, who left Iñigo Martínez on the bench, emerged as the leader of the Barcelona defense in his debut European competition. He contained Osimhen and showcased exceptional ball distribution—precise filtered passes, well-directed changes of play, and high-quality long passes. The 17-year-old’s masterful display brought back memories of some of Ronald Koeman’s performances in the heyday of the ‘Dream Team.’ It was a fitting reward for the Catalan center-back to be named the best player of the match.

Lamine and Fermín Cubarsí’s exhibition was complemented by an excellent performance from Lamine Yamal and Fermín. Despite not opening his Champions League scoring account, Lamine had several opportunities and will aim to become the youngest goal scorer in the competition in the quarterfinals. Nevertheless, his presence on the field became a nightmare for Napoli’s full-backs, and his burst of speed was crucial in the build-up to Barcelona’s second goal. Fermín, the player who opened the scoring, secured his place in the lineup ahead of more experienced players like Sergi Roberto and Oriol Romeu, a decision that paid off. After a couple of attempts that went high, Fermín didn’t miss on the third, placing the ball out of Meret’s reach with the inside of his foot after a well-timed pass from Raphinha. It was the second goal for the Andalusian midfielder in the Champions League, following his debut in the group stage against Shakhtar Donetsk.